ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Government gives two year extension to construction work related to Polavaram multipurpose project in Andhra Pradesh: Union Environment Minister
In a major decision, the Union Environment Ministry has today given two years of extension and allowed the construction works related to Polavaram Multipurpose Project. Informing the media in New Delhi the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Prakash Javadekar said that today the order has been signed and ministry has allowed the construction works for two years.
The Union Minister stressed that Polavaram project is very important to the people of Andhra Pradesh as it will irrigate nearly 3 lakh ha of land, generate hydel power with installed capacity of 960 MW and provide drinking water facilities to 540 enroute villages covering 25 lakh populations, particularly in Visakhapatnam, East Godavari and West Godavari and Krishna Districts.
In the year 2011 the then government had asked the Government of Andhra Pradesh to stop construction work of the project but in the year 2014 the NDA government declared the Polavaram project a National project and the ministry kept the “Stop Work Order” in abeyance to allow the construction works. The “Stop Work Order” has been kept in abeyance six times for a year each time. Considering the immense importance of the project this time the Ministry is keeping the “Stop Work Order” in abeyance to allow the construction works for two years without permission to impound water.
The Project envisages construction of Earth-cum-Rock fill dam across river Godavari. The maximum height of the dam is 48 m.
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
Prime Minister to lay the foundation stone for a National Highways Project worth Rs 1938 crore in Jalpaiguri District of West Bengal tomorrow
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for the four laning of the Falakata-Salsalabari section of NH -31 D in the northern part of West Bengal tomorrow. This 41.7 km long section of National Highways falls in the Jalpaiguri district of the state, and will be constructed at a cost of about Rs1938 Crore.
The project will reduce the distance from Salsalabari and Alipurduar to Siliguri by nearly 50 km. This is significant as better access to Siliguri means better access to railways and airways. The National Highway will facilitate better movement of tea and other agricultural produce from the region to markets. The improved connectivity will also lead to an increase in tourism in the region. All this in turn will give a major boost to socio-economic activity in the state, opening up employment opportunities for the local people.
The National Highway will incorporate all necessary safety features to provide relief to road users. There will be 3 Railway Over Bridges, 2 Flyovers, 3 Vehicular Underpasses, 8 Major Bridges and 17 Minor Bridges on this section of National Highway.
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs 
Cabinet approves transfer of administrative control of Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Ltd.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the transfer of administrative control of Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Limited , the Central Public Sector Undertaking implementing the Assam Gas Cracker Project  from Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals to Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas.
The CCEA has also approved the following:
-
- Feedstock subsidy to BCPL for 15 years of plant operation to maintain minimum Internal Rate of Return  of 10% . To bring the IRR to 10%, BCPL has estimated feedstock subsidy of approximately Rs.4600 crore for the project for 15 years of plant operation. BCPL will submit the proposal on yearly basis from the next financial year onwards and the administrative Ministry / Department will devise a mechanism to examine the proposal in consultation with the Ministry of Finance.
- Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas to make firm arrangements through concerned PSUs for supply of committed quantity and quality of feedstock to the project as envisaged in the earlier CCEA approval of 2006.
The project is seen as a part of the implementation of Assam accord, and would give impetus to the development of north-eastern region of the country and will improve the socio economic conditions of the people of Assam through increased employment.
Ministry of Defence
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh to be on a three-day visit to Vietnam from 8th June;
To hold bilateral talks with his Vietnamese counterpart to further strengthen defence cooperation
12 High Speed Guard Boats constructed under India’s $US 100 million Defence Line of Credit to be handed over to Vietnam
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh will pay an official visit to Vietnam from June 08-10, 2022, at the invitation of Vietnam’s Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang. The Raksha Mantri will start his visit by paying respects to Late President Ho Chi Minh at his Mausoleum in Hanoi.
Shri Rajnath Singh will hold bilateral talks with General Phan Van Giang, during which both the Ministers will review defence cooperation between the two countries and explore new initiatives to further strengthen the defence engagements. The two Ministers will also exchange views on regional and global issues of shared interest. The Raksha Mantri is also scheduled to call on the President of Vietnam Mr Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Prime Minister Mr Pham Minh Chinh.
At the Hong Ha Shipyard in Hai Phong, the Raksha Mantri will preside over the handing over ceremony of 12 High Speed Guard Boats constructed under the Government of India’s $US 100 million Defence Line of Credit to Vietnam. This project is significant in the context of the growing defence industry cooperation with Vietnam and exemplifies Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India, ‘Make for the World’.
During the visit, Shri Rajnath Singh will also visit the training institutions of Vietnam at Nha Trang, including the Telecommunication University where an Army Software Park is being established with the $US 5 million grant from Government of India. He will also attend a community event organised by the Embassy of India, Hanoi and interact with the Indian diaspora in Vietnam.
India and Vietnam share a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership since 2016 and defence cooperation is a key pillar of this partnership. Vietnam is an important partner in India’s Act East policy and the Indo-Pacific vision. Bilateral defence engagements have expanded over a period of time to include wide-ranging contacts between the two countries, including defence policy dialogues, military-to-military exchanges, high-level visits, capacity building and training programmes, cooperation in UN Peace Keeping, ship visits and bilateral exercises.
The Raksha Mantri’s visit on the historic occasion of 50 years of establishment of India-Vietnam Diplomatic relations and 75 years of India’s Independence will further consolidate the bilateral defence cooperation and the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Ministry of Finance
Customs duty full exemption for all imported drugs&Food for Special Medical Purposes for personal use for treatment of all Rare Diseases
The Central Government has given full exemption from basic customs duty on all drugs and Food for Special Medical Purposes imported for personal use for treatment of all Rare Diseases listed under the National Policy for Rare Diseases 2021 through a general exemption notification.
In order to avail this exemption, the individual importer has to produce a certificate from Central or State Director Health Servicesor District Medical Officer/Civil Surgeon of the district.Drugs/Medicines generally attractbasic customs duty of 10%, while some categories of lifesaving drugs/vaccines attract concessional rate of 5% or Nil.
While exemptions have already been provided to specified drugs for treatment of Spinal Muscular Atrophy or Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, the Government has been receiving many representations seeking customs duty relief for drugs and medicines used in treatment of other Rare Diseases.Drugs or Special Foods required for the treatment of these diseases are expensive and need to be imported. It is estimated that for a child weighing 10 kg, the annual cost of treatment for some rare diseases, may vary from ₹10 lakh to more than ₹1 crore per year with treatment being lifelong and drug dose and cost, increasing with age and weight.
This exemption willresult in substantial cost savings and provide much needed relief to the patients.
The Government has also fully exemptedPembrolizumab  used in treatment of various cancers from basic customs duty.
Click here for Gazette Notification to this effect.
Ministry of Culture
Gandhi Peace Prize for 2021 to be conferred on Gita Press, Gorakhpur
Jury headed by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi recognizes contribution of the hundred year old institution in promoting Gandhian ideals of peace and social harmony
The Gandhi Peace Prize for the year 2021 is being conferred on Gita Press, Gorakhpur.
Gandhi Peace Prize is an annual award instituted by Government of India in 1995, on the occasion of 125th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi as a tribute to the ideals espoused by Mahatma Gandhi. The award is open to all persons regardless of nationality, race, language, caste, creed or gender.
The award carries an amount of Rs. 1 crore, a citation, a plaque and an exquisite traditional handicraft/handloom item.
The past awardees include organizations such as ISRO, Ramakrishna Mission, Grameen Bank of Bangladesh, Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari, Akshaya Patra, Bengaluru, Ekal Abhiyan Trust, India and Sulabh International, New Delhi. It has also been awarded to luminaries like Late Dr. Nelson Mandela, former President of South Africa, Dr. Julius Nyerere, Former President of Tanzania, Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne, Founder President of Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement, Sri Lanka, Dr. Gerhard Fischer, Federal Republic of Germany, Baba Amte, Dr. John Hume, Ireland, Mr. Vaclav Havel, former President of Czechoslovakia, Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, Shri Chandi Prasad Bhatt and Shri Yohei Sasakawa, Japan.
Recent awardees include Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Al Said, Oman  and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman , Bangladesh.
The Jury headed by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, after due deliberations on 18th June, 2023 unanimously decided to select Gita Press, Gorakhpur as the recipient of the Gandhi Peace Prize for the year 2021, in recognition of it’s outstanding contribution towards social, economic and political transformation through non-violent and other Gandhian methods.
Established in 1923, Gita Press is one of the world’s largest publishers, having published 41.7 crore books in 14 languages, including 16.21 crore Shrimad Bhagvad Gita. The institution has never relied on advertisement in its publications, for revenue generation. Gita Press along with its affiliated organizations, strives for the betterment of life and the well being of all.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi recalled the contribution of Gita Press, in promoting the Gandhian ideals of peace and social harmony. He observed that the conferment of Gandhi Peace Prize on Gita Press, on completion of hundred years of its establishment, is a recognition of the work done by the institution in community service.
Gandhi Peace Prize 2021, recognizes the important and unparalleled contribution of Gita Press, in contributing to collective upliftment of humanity, which personifies Gandhian living in true sense.
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
Shri Anurag Singh Thakur to visit Dubai from 26th to 28th March
To attend CEO Roundtable and participate in event “Celebrating & Taking Indian Media & Entertainment Industry Global” at India Pavilion at the Dubai Expo
The Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting and Youth Affairs & Sports Shri Anurag Singh Thakur will be on a three-day official visit to Dubai from 26th March to 28th March, 2020. During the visit the minister will attend CEO roundtable with leading personalities of the cinema exhibition and television world. He will also visit the India Pavilion at the Dubai Expo where Media and Entertainment Week has been going on throughout the week. The Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting will also meet ministers and industry leaders during the visit.
CEO roundtable on Saturday will be attended by Mr. Ignace Lahoud, CEO, VOX Cinemas; Mr. Satyajit Pendharkar, COO – Star Cinemas; Mr. Ajay Sethi, Founder MD - Channel 2 Group; Mr. Vivek Sethia & Mr. Mathew Johnson, ARN Group and Mr. Sudhir Nagpal, Head – International Business, Star TV.
On Sunday 27th March, 2022, Shri Thakur will visit India Pavilion at the Dubai Expo to participate in the event “Celebrating & Taking Indian Media & Entertainment Industry Global”. Eminent film personality Shri Ranveer Singh is likely to join the Minister during the visit. Minister will interact with many leaders of the sector during his visit to the Pavilion. Shri Anurag Singh Thakur will meet Mr. Jamal Al Sharif, Executive Board Member at Dubai Film and TV Commission, Dubai Development Authority at the Expo on 28th March.
The Minister is likely to meet a range of people to promote India’s interests in the sector. The proposed meetings include H.H. Sheikh Suroor bin Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan; H.E. Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi; Hon’ble Minister of Culture and Youth, Her Excellency Reem Ebrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation; H.E. Helal Saeed Almarri Nahyan, Member of the Board, International Humanitarian City  and Director General of Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing ; H.E. Dr Khalid Omar Al Midfa, Chairman - Sharjah Media City ; H.E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman, Department of Culture and Tourism and Chairman twofour54; H.E. Shihab Alhammadi , Managing Director - Sharjah Media City ; Mr Malek Al Malek, Group CEO - Tecom Group; Mr. Majed Al Suwaidi, Managing Director - Dubai Media City, Dubai Studio City and Dubai Production City at TECOM Group Dubai; Mr. Suhail Galadari, Co Chairman - Galadari Brothers Group; Mr. Abdullah bin Khalifa Al-Attiyah, Chairman - Gulf New; Waleed bin Ibrahim Al-Ibrahim, Founder and Chairman - Middle East Broadcasting Center .
Ministry of Defence
Defence Secretary Inaugurates NCC’s Swachhata Pakhwada at India Gate and Rajpath
Defence Secretary, Dr Ajay Kumar inaugurated Swachhata Pakhwada organised by NCC at India Gate on 18 January 21. The theme of this Swachhata Pakhwada is "Clean India, Green India, Yeh Hai Mera Dream India".
Speaking on the occasion. Dr Ajay Kumar said that NCC is the largest uniformed youth organisation of the world and has contributed immensely towards Nation Building, through activities such as Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat and Special National Integration Camps, Leadership & Personality Development and Swachhata Abhiyan Programmes. He also complimented NCC cadets for their contribution as Corona Warriors to prevent the spread of pandemic through Exercise “NCC Yogdan”. He added that NCC has also undertaken mammoth efforts in mobilising public opinion towards the importance of Swachhata, by massive participation in the National Swachhata Pakhwadas. The Defence Secretary said that NCC cadets' voluntary participation in various community development and social service schemes is praiseworthy and has impacted a large segment of our population. Dr.Ajay Kumar appreciated the theme of this Pakhwada and hoped that through such campaigns, the nation can make steady progress.
The Defence Secretary also said that the multifaceted training imparted to NCC Cadets has produced some very distinguished and prominent alumni who have held or are holding senior appointments in the Government, Armed Forces and various civil organizations. He added that NCC is rendering yeoman service in creating a reservoir of trained, disciplined and motivated youth, ready to lead the Nation.
The inaugural ceremony included a welcome address by a cadet, followed by a poem recital and sharing of experience by a cadet on the importance of adopting Swachhata in daily life to avoid diseases/COVID. The NCC cadets highlighted the significance of accepting Swachhata as a lifestyle through a well choreographed Nukkad Natak. The ceremony culminated with the flagging off of a Plog Run by the Defence Secretary.
During the Swachhata Pakhwada the NCC cadets will keep Rajpath clean for the Republic Day Parade - 2021 by spreading awareness through displaying banners, distribution of pamphlets and showcasing 'Swachhata through Nukkad Nataks. The cadets organised in 26 teams will also carry out plogging from 'C hexagon' of India Gate to Vijay Path from 18 to 29 January 2021 and in doing so, spread awareness about the importance of cleanliness.
DG NCC Lt Gen Tarun Kumar Aich, and a number of dignitaries of MoD and NCC attended the ceremony.
ABB/ Nampi/KA/Rajib
(Visitor Counter : 697
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Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
|
Funds to Government Hospitals
The total allocation made/grant provided/fund made available by Ministry during the last three years to Central Government funded hospitals in Delhi are as under:
Hospitals of Delhi

|
|
Hospitals
|
|
2016-17
|
|
2017-18
|
|
2018-19
|
|
Safdarjung Hospital
|
|
943.98
|
|
1121.39
|
|
1177.17
|
|
PGIMER Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital
|
|
492.00
|
|
556.87
|
|
562.49
|
|
Lady Hardinge Medical College & Smt. SuchetaKriplani Hospital
|
|
296
|
|
406.49
|
|
410.74
|
|
Kalawati Saran Children’s Hospital
|
|
90
|
|
105.48
|
|
111.81
|
|
National Institute of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
|
|
70.20
|
|
91.20
|
|
91.71
|
|
All India Institute of Medical Sciences 
|
|
2043.00
|
|
2400.00
|
|
3018.00
|
|
Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute
|
|
51.00
|
|
62.38
|
|
65.50
|
|
New Delhi TB Centre
|
|
3.50
|
|
4.06
|
|
4.30
The number of OPD patients registered and surgeries performed in Central government funded hospitals in Delhi during the last three years are as under:
No. of OPD patients registered:
Hospitals of Delhi
|
|
Hospitals
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|
2016
|
|
2017
|
|
2018
|
|
Safdarjung Hospital
|
|
31,11,973
|
|
31,09,487
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|
32,98,638
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|
Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital
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|
18,34,491
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|
20,51,506
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|
22,46,888
|
|
Lady Hardinge Medical College & Smt. SuchetaKriplani Hospital
|
|
7,91,727
|
|
7,57,682
|
|
7,91,296
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|
Kalawati Saran Children’s Hospital
|
|
2,36,438
|
|
2,28,365
|
|
2,82,512
|
|
National Institute of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
|
|
2,18,287
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2,55,138
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|
2,73,284
|
|
All India Institute of Medical Sciences 
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|
41,40,747
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|
43,55,338
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|
41,45,453
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|
Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute
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|
2,08,421 
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|
New Delhi TB Centre
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|
20,052
|
|
22,599
|
|
23,731
No. of surgeries performed:
Hospitals of Delhi
|
|
Hospitals
|
|
2016
|
|
2017
|
|
2018
|
|
Safdarjung Hospital
|
|
1,03,264
|
|
1,01,411
|
|
83,037
|
|
Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital
|
|
53,473
|
|
59,364
|
|
70,147
|
|
Lady Hardinge Medical College & Smt. SuchetaKriplani Hospital
|
|
19,410
|
|
17,140
|
|
18,127
|
|
Kalawati Saran Children’s Hospital
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|
4600
|
|
5195
|
|
5836
|
|
National Institute of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
|
|
648
|
|
596
|
|
710
|
|
All India Institute of Medical Sciences 
|
|
1,76,843

|
|
1,93,034

|
|
2,57,465

|
|
Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute
|
|
Nil
|
|
Nil
|
|
Nil
|
|
New Delhi TB Centre
|
|
Nil
|
|
Nil
|
|
Nil
The Minister of State , ShAshwini Kumar Choubey stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha here today.
Ministry of Finance
CBDT revising return forms to enable taxpayers avail benefits of timeline extension due to Covid-19
In order to enable income taxpayers to avail full benefits of various timeline extensions granted by the Government of India due to Covid-19 pandemic situations, the CBDT is revising the return forms for FY 2019-20  which shall be notified by the end of this month.
CBDT today said that in order to facilitate taxpayer to avail full benefits with various timeline extension up to 30th June 2020 granted by the government, it has initiated necessary changes in the return forms so that taxpayers could take benefits of their transactions carried out during the period from 1st April 2020 to 30th June 2020 in the return forms for FY 2019-20.
CBDT explained that the necessary modifications in the return forms are being made to allow taxpayers to avail the benefits of their investments/transactions made for the Apr-to-Jun 2020 period. Once the revised formsare notified, it will further necessitate the consequential changes in the software and return filing utility.Hence, the return filing utility after incorporating necessary changes shall be made available by 31st May, 2020 to avail benefits for FY 2019-20.
CBDT said thatdue to outbreak of Covid-19, the Government has extended various timelinesunder the Income-tax Act,1961 vide Taxation and Other Laws  Ordinance, 2020. Accordingly, the time for making investment/ payments for claiming deduction under Chapter-VIA-B of IT Act which includes Section 80C , 80D ,80G , etc. for FY 2019-20 has also been extended to 30thJune 2020. Also, the dates for making investment/construction/purchase for claiming roll over benefit in respect of capital gains under sections 54 to section 54GB has also been extended to 30th June 2020. Therefore return forms are being revised to facilitate reporting of the transactions of the relief period.
It may be noted that generally the income-tax return forms are notified in the first week of April. This year also the e-filing utility for filing of return for Assessment Year 2020-21 wasmade available as on 1st April, 2020, and the Income-tax Return  Forms ITR-1  and ITR-4  for the FY 2019-20 ,too, were already notified vide notification dated 3rd January, 2020. However, to ensure that the taxpayer is enabled to avail all benefits of the timeline extension due to Covid -19 pandemic, the ReturnFormsrevision is being carried out.
RM/KMN
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Ministry of Defence
MoD to organise series of webinars in run up to DefExpo 2020
Ministry of Defence  is organising a series of web seminars  from December 10, 2019  in the run up to DefExpo 2020. The 11th edition of the biennial flagship event will be held in Uttar Pradesh capital Lucknow between February 05-08, 2020. The webinars will be conducted by leading luminaries namely Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Defence Research and Development Organisation  Chairman Dr G Satheesh Reddy, Padma Shri Dr Kota Harinarayana, Chairman & MD Bharat Forge Ltd Shri Baba Kalyani, Founder & President of Synergia Foundation Shri Tobby Simon, IIT Bhilai Director/Member of Artificial Intelligence Task Force for Defence Dr Rajat Moona and officials from MoD/Department of Defence Production & Invest India.
The webinars will focus on path breaking topics and will be streamed worldwide. The topics would be of academic interest and relevance to Defence, Aerospace and Security Industry, academia and student fraternity.
The details of the webinars, schedule, speakers’ profile, brief on the topics and the link for participation for each session is available on DefExpo 2020 website . The webinars will be streamed live on YouTube. The recordings will also be made available on DefExpo 2020 website as well.
The DefExpo 2020 will cover the complete spectrum of the country’s aerospace, defence and homeland security interests. The theme is ‘India – The Emerging Defence Manufacturing Hub’ and ‘Digital Transformation of Defence’. The event will focus on bringing to the forefront digital advances in the industry and provide a platform for drivers of such transformation to come together. India, with its strength in Information Technology and Software development, stands poised to further bolster the Digital Transformation trend.
SS/Nampi/DK/Savvy/MTJ/ADA
(Visitor Counter : 532